August 07, 2017

The Chevrotines 'Challenge'

The 'challenge' for us, was to finally get the car to the finish. For the first time, we had all of the bits on the car. We had our new engine, on full song, the rebuilt 6 speed sequential box and the Proflex suspension on all 4 corners. My brief road test of the car, in the lanes around the workshop, had me smiling when I got back. I had always lacked confidence in the front end, feeling it to be a bit twitchy but suddenly it was transformed. I was able to place the car EXACTLY where I wanted to and it was totally stable. I was looking forward to Dave's comments, when he tried the car.

Our first event in Belgium this year was the 10th running of the Boucles Chevrotines, a round of the FIRC and one of the events that we entered last year. As has become our habit, we left on Friday morning for the trip to Sautin in Belgium, via the Dover / Calais ferry. This time however, we had a treat in store for the evening. Not only was it the 10th running of the event but also the organising clubs 30th birthday and they were having a party.

We didn't really know what to expect, it was a Charleston Themed affair, so who knew and there must be a bar. And so it turned out. A beer then, chaps. For this event, I had a little help from Mike Relf,a long time friend of Neil and Dave, that's him on the right. Naddy was there to keep us all in check. After some awards, to long time members and organisers, none of which meant anything to us, as it was all conducted in an alien language. As soon as that was complete, the music began and our hosts started bring out food and free beers. As the evening went on and the beer flowed, some of our party began joining in the dancing. Neil and Mike wondered who would look best in wings. I leave it to you to choose.

And still the free beer continued, and the fun continued. The ladies from the organising club took no prisoners, you got dragged out onto the floor.

Having quite a long trip back to our accommodation and a fairly early start, we gave up around midnight.

Having been here before, we decided to service at the sports ground again. We even managed to get the same spot. While Dave and Neil went off to recce, Mike and I did the last couple of jobs. A new Ti sticker, replacing the one wrecked in the Epynt accident, and new carbon fibre door bar protectors replacing the old ones.